The house building industry's trade body said Mather, who was Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism from 2007 to 2011, is stepping down “under a mutual agreement” to allow his to “pursue other interests”.

Homes for Scotland said it “very recently” launched a recruitment process to find Mather's replacement.

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Vice chair, and a previous past chair Doug McLeod, Barratt Homes' regional director for Scotland, will act as chair on an interim basis.

Homes for Scotland chief executive, Nicola Barclay, said: “Jim’s insight and experience has been invaluable in expanding our work in the critical area of public affairs and the Board and I wish him well for the future.”